Benevolent sexism

Benevolent sexism is when someone treats another person, usually based on their gender, with kindness or special treatment. At first, it may sound good, like when someone says, "You're a girl, so I'll hold the door open for you because you should be protected." But it's important to understand that this kind of sexism is not actually good.

Let's break it down. Sexism is when people have different expectations or ideas about what someone can or cannot do based on their gender. Benevolent sexism happens when people think that some gender is weaker or needs more help so they can be kind to them based on that idea. They may think they're doing something nice, but it actually limits what someone can do and makes assumptions about them just because of their gender.

For example, imagine you are a girl and you want to be a superhero when you grow up. But someone tells you, "Girls can't be superheroes, they need to be saved by boys." They may think they're being nice by saying that boys should protect girls, but it's not fair to you. It implies that girls are weak and need help, and it doesn't let you follow your dreams and be the strong superhero you want to be.

Benevolent sexism can also happen in everyday situations. Sometimes people say things like, "Girls should always look pretty and be delicate," or "Boys should be tough and never cry." These statements may seem innocent, but they put pressure on people to fit into certain gender roles. It tells girls they should focus on their appearance and boys that they shouldn't show any emotion. It stops them from fully expressing themselves in the way they want to.

So even though benevolent sexism may sound nice, it's important to understand that it's not fair to treat people differently or limit their opportunities just because of their gender. Everyone should have the same chance to be who they want to be and do what they want, regardless of whether they're a boy or a girl.